Instructions

1. Download and print tree pattern and diagrams.
2. Wash fabrics separately. If the water from any fabric is discolored, wash again until rinse water runs clear. Dry and press fabrics.
3. New to paper piecing? We recommend doing a test using scrap fabric before working on the final blocks.

CUTTING

1. From green-and-red print for outer border, cut two 3-1/2- x 8-1/2-in. pieces and two 3-1/2- x 14-1/2-in. pieces.
2. From dark-green print, cut four 1- x 8-1/2-in. strips for sashing and inner border and two 1- x 14-1/2-in. strips for inner border. Also cut 2-1/2-in.-wide strips for binding to equal distance around place mat plus 12 in.
3. From red print, cut four 3-1/2-in. squares for corners.
4. From fabric for backing, cut one 16- x 22-in. piece for backing.

Foundation Pieced Tree Block (make 3)

1. Cut one pattern apart on pattern lines, making pattern pieces 1 through 9.
2. Pin pattern pieces 1 through 9 right side up to right side of the different fabrics as directed or as desired.
3. Cut out shapes 1 through 9, cutting 1/2 in. outside pattern lines.
4. Place a fabric piece 1 right side up on section 1 of a paper pattern. Hold the pattern up to a light source to make sure the fabric is centered over the area. Pin fabric in place as shown in Fig. 1.
5. Place a fabric piece 2 right side down on the first piece so the raw edges are matching as shown in Fig. 2. Hold the pattern up to a light source and flip the fabric over to make sure there is enough fabric on all edges of the number 2 pattern section. Flip the fabric back and pin to hold in place. Turn the pattern over. With a short straight stitch, sew on the pattern line between sections 1 and 2, extending stitching a couple of stitches beyond the pattern line. Remove pins and trim seam to 1/4 in. Open and press fabric 2 over section 2 as shown in Fig. 3.
6. In the same way, add fabrics 3 through 9 to sections 3 through 9.
7. Baste just outside the outer line
8. of the pattern.
9. With tree centered, trim block to an accurate 4-1/2- x 7-1/2-in. rectangle.

SASHING AND INNER BORDER

1. Lay out pieced tree blocks right side up.
2. Sew a 1- x 8-1/2-in. sashing strip between the blocks and a same-size inner border to each end. Press seams toward strips.
3. Sew a 1- x 14-1/2-in. inner border strip to top and bottom edges. Press seams toward strips.

OUTER BORDER

1. Sew a 3-1/2- x 8-1/2-in. border strip to opposite sides of place mat. Press seams toward inner border strips.
2. Sew a 3-1/2-in. square to opposite ends of remaining border strips. Press seams toward squares. Sew a pieced strip to top and bottom edges of place mat. Press seams toward inner border strips.

QUILTING

1. Place backing piece wrong side up on a flat surface. Center batting on top of backing and pieced place mat on top of batting. Smooth; baste as needed to hold layers together.
2. Thread sewing machine with monofilament thread and stitch in-the-ditch of seams in pieced blocks, inner border and corner squares.
3. Trim excess batting and backing even with pieced top and square place mat.

BINDING

1. Sew narrow ends of binding strips together diagonally to make one long strip. Trim excess from seams and press seams open.
2. Fold one end of strip diagonally and press 1/4 in. to wrong side. Fold and press binding strip in half lengthwise with wrong sides facing.
3. Sew binding to front of place mat with a 1/4-in. seam, mitering corners and overlapping ends. Trim excess binding.
4. Fold binding to back of place mat, encasing raw edges and mitering corners. Hand-sew fold of binding to back of place mat.

QUILTED DIY PLACE MATS FINISHED SIZE:  Place mat measures about 20-1/2 in. wide x 14-1/2 in. high.

Quilted DIY Place Mats craft originally sent in by Jane Craig, Big Bend, Wisconsin.

Quilted DIY Place Mats Photos by Country Woman magazine.

Tagged as: Christmas Crafts, Quilting Crafts, Sewing Crafts